http://businessculture.org - Find out about business culture in Lithuania. This guide is part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project which examined European Business culture in 31 countries looking at business communication, business etiquette, business meeting etiquette, internship and student placements, cost of living, work-life-balance and social media guide.

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businessculture.org
Business Culture
in Lithuania
Content Template
http://businessculture.org/easterneurope/lithuania/
Last updated: 24.10.2013
businessculture.org
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This
publication reflects the view only of the author, and the Commission Germany
held
Content
cannot be
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Business
Culture
in
Lithuania
....................................................................................................
4
Xenophobia: being a foreigner in Lithuania .........................................................................................6
General Education ................................................................................................................................6
Educational standards ...........................................................................................................................6
Other Issues such as transportation infrastructure ................................................................................7
Cultural taboos ......................................................................................................................................7
Business
Communication
..........................................................................................................
9
Face-to-face communication .................................................................................................................9
Language Matters .................................................................................................................................9
Business Relationships ...........................................................................................................................9
Making contact....................................................................................................................................10
Personal Titles .....................................................................................................................................10
Business
Etiquette
..................................................................................................................
11
Corporate Social Responsibility ..........................................................................................................11
Punctuality ..........................................................................................................................................11
Gift giving ............................................................................................................................................12
Business Dress Code ............................................................................................................................12
Bribery and corruption........................................................................................................................12
Business
Meeting
Etiquette
....................................................................................................
13
Importance of Business Meeting .........................................................................................................13
Business Meeting planning ..................................................................................................................13
Negotiation process .............................................................................................................................14
Meeting protocol .................................................................................................................................14
How to Run a Business Meeting .........................................................................................................15
Follow up letter after meeting with client............................................................................................15
Business meals .....................................................................................................................................15
Business Meeting tips ..........................................................................................................................16
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Internship
and
placement
.......................................................................................................
17
Work experience .................................................................................................................................17
Internship and Placement advice ........................................................................................................17
Social security and European health insurance ..................................................................................17
Safety ...................................................................................................................................................18
Do I need a visa? .................................................................................................................................18
Internship and placement salary .........................................................................................................19
Internship and placement accommodation ........................................................................................19
Cost
of
Living
...........................................................................................................................
20
Money and Banking ............................................................................................................................20
Traveling costs.....................................................................................................................................20
Work-­‐life
Balance
....................................................................................................................
22
National holidays.................................................................................................................................22
Working hours .....................................................................................................................................23
Working culture ..................................................................................................................................23
Health insurance .................................................................................................................................23
Social
Media
Guide
.................................................................................................................
25
Search and Social Media Marketing for International Business .........................................................25
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Business
Culture
in
Lithuania
The following is a very short introduction toLithuania. External links at the end of this page
provide you with more in depth information concerning different topics.
The following video gives you an overview of the general facts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linjjGgf4bU#t=20
Lithuania is a relatively small country in the northern part of Europe. The largest among the
three Baltic States, it neighbours Latvia and Belarus to the north and to the southeast,
respectively. To the south, the country borders Poland and to the southwest the Russian
exclave of the Kaliningrad Oblast. Reaching 65,300 km2, Lithuania’s land mass is larger than
that of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium or Denmark. Lithuania has approximately 91
km of sandy coastline; however, no more than 38 km of these face the open Baltic Sea. The
remaining length of the coast is along the Curonian Spit. Lithuania has an ice-free port in
Klaipëda, which is the largest and most important transport hub in the country and links
routes through sea, land and railway from both East and West. The climate can be classed as
between maritime and continental, with wet, moderate summers and winters. Lithuania is in
the Eastern European Time Zone and adheres to CET (UTC +2) during the winter and EEST
(UTC +3) during the summer.
Lithuania has had an interesting history. At the end of the 14th century, the country was the
largest in Europe and later it formed a union with Poland creating a single dual state, which
was only dismantled in 1795. Lithuania recovered its freedom after World War I; however, it
was annexed by the USSR in 1940. Fifty years later, it was the first Baltic State to declare its
independence from Russia, on the 11th of March 1990.
The Lithuanian population is more than three million people, mostly comprised of
Lithuanians, but also Poles, Russians, Belarusians and other ethnic groups. The main religions
are Roman Catholicism and Russian Orthodox.
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The political situation in Lithuania is comparable to that in the rest of Europe. It is a stable
parliamentary democracy, in which the Prime Minister is the head of the government, and
also of a pluri-form multi-party system. The supreme legislative power is held by the Seimas
(Parliament), consisting of 141 members elected for a term of four years through universal,
equal and direct suffrage and by secret ballot. The President holds a primarily ceremonial role
as Head of State. The President is elected for a term of five years by popular vote and is
eligible to stand for a second term in office. The President chooses the Prime Minister on the
approval of the Parliament. The Lithuanian legal system is also similar to the rest of Europe.
The Constitutional (Supreme) Court is the highest court in the land, followed by Regional
Courts and District Courts. Lithuania has adopted the European Union standards for all of its
laws.
Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 527,000. Kaunas with
a population of 337,000 and Klaipëda with a population of 178,000 are the next largest cities.
Lithuania is divided into 10 counties each named after their principal city. Each
municipality’s government is chosen by democratic elections for municipality councils. There
are elections every 4 years and the councils vote for the municipality mayors. The official and
most commonly spoken language is Lithuanian, which is one of only two remaining living
languages from the Baltic language branch of the Indo-European language family (the other
being Latvian). The second and third most commonly spoken languages in Lithuania are
Russian and English.
Lithuania joined the European Union on the 1st of May 2004 and NATO on the 28th of
March 2004. Later, on the 21st of December 2007, Lithuania became a fully–fledged member
of the Schengen Area and is also a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Among
the Baltic States, Lithuania’s economy is the largest and also the most diversified. Intensive
industrialization during the Soviet regime resulted in companies specializing in electronics,
chemicals, machine tools, food processing, metal processing, and construction materials.
Light manufacturing involves the production of textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, furniture and
household appliances. Services are now the fastest-growing segment in Lithuanian economy.
Dynamic transport and transit services are supported by a well-developed road system, as well
as the only oil pipeline and refinery in the Baltic States.
Tourism is also growing at a rapid pace thanks to the historic legacy of the cities Vilnius,
Kaunas and Klaipëda and the natural resources for ecotourism and spa treatments that the
country offers. The information technology and telecommunications sector is now one of the
most promising sectors of Lithuania’s economy. Lithuania is also taking a leading position in
biotechnology, compared to the other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The
Lithuanian economy is a very open one, with its exports having a high proportion of imported
content, which implies that Lithuania attracts foreign exporters of intermediate and
investment goods.
The main trading partners of the country are Russia, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Netherlands
and Belarus. Mineral products, chemicals, textiles, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and
plastics amount to more than 60% of exports. Imported commodities are primarily mineral
products, transport equipment, chemicals, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,
metals and lasers.
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Xenophobia:
being
a
foreigner
in
Lithuania
Foreigners represent less than one percent of the Lithuanian population and most come to the
country for family reasons, although students are a constantly growing group. While having a
positive attitude towards foreigners in general, Lithuanians have different opinions on foreign
nationals who come to live and work in the country. Most of them believe that foreigners
increase the competition for jobs and will drive down wages. This opinion is particularly
strong amongst pensioners, civil servants and government workers. Young and highly
qualified people are more likely to think positively of immigration and see highly qualified
workers as valuable to the Lithuanian economy.
General
Education
The rights to free education are guaranteed by law for primary and secondary school and
children begin their education when they are seven. It is possible for a child to start school at
the age of six, if they are mature enough and the parents request it. Secondary education is
organised according to a two-year curriculum, which is personalised to the individual student
with the assistance of a guidance counsellor. Students study a number of compulsory subjects,
as well as a minimum number of optional ones.
The higher education system is divided between colleges which offer apprenticeships and jobspecific training and universities which offer academic programmes of study. College
graduates have the option to continue to university by undertaking foundation courses or
specialised training programmes. 93% of Lithuanians have completed secondary educationor
higher, which is greater than the European average of 73%. Approximately 34% of the
population has a higher education qualification and Lithuania is first in the World
Competitiveness Rankings in terms of literacy and in the European Union for completion of
secondary or higher education.
Individuals who have completed their general education abroad and would like to apply to
study at institutions of higher education in Lithuania are required to contact the Lithuanian
Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (Suvalki St. 1, LT-03106, Vilnius,
Internet website www.skvc.lt) and present notarised certificates that verify their educational
achievements.
Educational
standards
The educational standard in Lithuania has always been good. The Lithuanians are generally
well educated and participate in training and long-life learning programmes after graduation.
For them, education is seen as a way of getting a good job and earning a good living.
Mobility of the labour force is high among the younger generation. Many have moved from
the countryside to the big cities to look for better paying jobs and 67% of the Lithuanian
population now live in towns. With Lithuania joining the EU, people also have the
opportunity to travel abroad for jobs.
The Lithuanian Law on Education (2011) states that parties of the education system of
Lithuania have the right to participate in international collaboration with foreign partners. The
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government programmes in education promote mobility and internationalisation, with the aim
of improving educational quality, supporting the development of Lithuanian (Baltic) studies
abroad and encouraging cooperation between foreign and Lithuanian researchers. There are
funding schemes in place to retain and attract highly qualified researchers to carry out work in
Lithuania.
Other
Issues
such
as
transportation
infrastructure
The Lithuanian roads are considered some of the best in Eastern Europe. The country has a
well-developed network of four-lane highways that link Vilnius, Klaipėda, Kaunas,
Panevėžys and Palanga. The costs of public transportation are not very high and a bus ticket
from Vilnius in the very East to Klaipėda in the west would be around €10. Bus tickets can be
bought at the bus station, via a website, or from the bus driver when travelling between main
cities. There are regular buses that travel between the main cities and fuel prices are on a par
with Western European countries.
Some of cities are connected by railway: Vilnius-Kaunas, Vilnius-Šiauliai, ŠiauliaiPanevėžys, Šiauliai-Klaipėda and Vilnius-Klaipėda. There are 3 passenger airports, but these
only operate international flights and there are no internal flights in Lithuania. Fast travel is
guaranteed by the small and well-developed road network.
International bus routes to western cities are available; however, their number has decreased
due to the development of low-cost airlines. Buses are the preferred alternative for shorter
distances such as Vilnius-Warsaw, Vilnius-Riga and Vilnius-Minsk.
The main modes of urban transportation are buses. In Vilnius and Kaunas, the public
transportation system consists of buses and trolley-buses. Licensed private bus companies
also operate in urban and suburban areas, where public transport services are limited or nonexistant.
Cultural
taboos
Lithuanians are polite, have respect for others and expect the same behaviour as in the other
Catholic countries where simple manners are observed. Lithuanians do not really have Taboos
about subjects of conversation that should be avoided; except that you should show respect
and avoid open criticism of Lithuania or its people. Lithuanians are very proud of themselves
and their country, so it is not acceptable to criticise them, their government or the economic
situation, even as a joke. If they criticize their own country in your presence, it is best to just
give a word of encouragement, like you think things are getting better. Lithuanians are also
very private and are likely not to discuss their family with you until they get to know you
better. It is not acceptable to ask about a person’s income or financial situation. According to
some opinions, openly displaying feelings when your partner is of the same sex could lead to
a negative reaction.
Another sensitive topic is basketball, which Lithuanians call their second religion. You may
get yourself into a long, passionate and possibly angry discussion, if you criticize a Lithuanian
basketball team or the style of their game.
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There are a number of behaviours that are not acceptable in Lithuania. The consumption of
alcohol in parks, squares and other public places is prohibited by law along with smoking in
cafes, restaurants, halls and on public transport, except in specially marked smoking areas,
and littering from car windows or in public places. Fines can be quite expensive and these
offences are taken seriously.
Avoid kissing, when greeting a person that you do not know well, a handshake is far more
common and appropriate. Usually only relatives or close friends kiss when meeting.
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Business
Communication
Successful business requires good knowledge of the foreign country culture. You have to be
prepared to encounter different attitudes and beliefs that influence the business decisions. This
section is intended to provide the basic ‘ground rules’ for doing business in Lithuania.
Face-­‐to-­‐face
communication
Lithuanians are respectful with a conservative demeanour. They are formal and tend not to
use many physical gestures. Usually, men and women do not touch whilst talking, although
patting on the shoulder might be observed. It is recommended not to point with a single
finger, but to use the whole hand with the palm facing up.
Eye contact is crucial and Lithuanian business people prefer to look into the eyes of their
partners while discussing business opportunities. Maintaining good eye contact is a sign of
respect and demonstrates how seriously someone is taking the subject of discussion.
Lithuanians are usually conservative in their manners and the way they communicate; they
are direct and say what they mean politely. Lithuanians are warm people, although they might
not give this impression at first. When they get well acquainted with somebody, they are
willing to share more personal information. Lithuanians are very reserved and not emotive
talkers. They do not say much and do not like people who talk too much. So, when you are in
discussion with them, be careful not to talk too much and get straight to the point. Lithuanians
obviously try not to offend at the first meeting, but they are still going to say exactly what
they think and will expect the same from their partners.
Language
Matters
Lithuanians are multilingual, often speaking Russian, English, French and German as second
languages. Lithuania is ranked in the top five EU countries with the highest number of people
who are proficient in at least two foreign languages. 90% of the population is able to
communicate in at least one foreign language and approximately 50% of Lithuanians can
speak two foreign languages.
Business
Relationships
Like in other Baltic states, it is very important to have a personal contact in the destination
country. Lithuania is more product-orientated, which means that if you have a good product,
they would be willing to do business with you.
A Lithuanian businessman will be more comfortable in engaging in business with you, if you
have been introduced to him by someone he knows and trusts. If you can approach a potential
business partner through a trusted mutual contact, that is usually the best way to open
communications. The business community in Lithuania is very close-knit; many business
people are good friends and know each other very well. According to researchers, Lithuanian
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businesses are more likely to cooperate with foreigners that they do not know than
Lithuanians they do not know.
Once a contact has been made, you must be prepared to make frequent visits to Lithuania to
solidify the business relationship. In business, personal relationships are very important and
critical business issues require face-to-face discussion. Frequent visits and phone calls will
also be required to build the trust for a lasting relationship.
You should dedicate time and effort in fostering relationships through informal meetings and
continuing communication.
Lithuanians prefer to have all agreements on paper, signed and sealed. Verbal agreements are
good, but not legally binding. All agreements, deadlines and procedures are written up in both
English and Lithuanian and signed by both sides
Making
contact
The custom in Lithuania is a firm handshake. Close friends and family may give each other
light hugs or exchange kisses on the cheek. However, foreigners should wait for the
Lithuanian partners to define when your acquaintance is so close.
Personal space is important to Lithuanians. An arms’ length is the norm, although this might
be less with family and close friends. Lithuanians are generally very affectionate with their
family, friends and colleagues, while maintaining a good degree of respect.
Any topic of discussion is good to start a conversation with. You can talk about family, work,
hobbies and sports. Lithuanians are fond of basketball and their national team is among the
best in the world.
Personal
Titles
People are referred to by their title and surname. Colleagues and supervisors are usually
referred to by their first name with Ponas (Mr), Panele (Ms) or Ponia (Mrs) or by title:
Doctor, Professor, Director, Principle etc. and sometimes including last names. It is important
not to address someone by their first name until invited to do so.
It is advisable to use the information on their business card to determine how to address an
associate. So, if he or she has a title written in front of their name, then you should address the
person by their title and surname. Academic titles are highly recommended to be used and
you would generally be expected to use a formal form of address until requested not to. Male
and female surnames differ, e.g. “Sakalauskas” for male and “Sakalauskiene” for wife or
“Sakalauskaité” for daughter. There are no specific protocols surrounding the giving and
receiving of business cards.
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Business
Etiquette
Corporate
Social
Responsibility
The understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility differs among Lithuanian companies
and is frequently linked to philanthropy rather than partnerships. For most of them, CSR is
about ethical conduct and transparency in operations. For others, protecting the environment
is a socially responsible activity.
Codes of conduct are not considered as a must and the companies may have them in a written
or verbal form. The development of codes of conduct is associated primarily with the
improvement of employee relations and Lithuanian companies hold strong beliefs that that
such codes play very little role in good government relations. The reasons that Lithuanian
companies participate in social projects (mainly in the area of education environmental
protection and health) include: creating a better reputation in society; improving relations with
the local community; continued existence of the business in the long term; and increasing
shareholder value.
The barriers to implementing CSR faced by Lithuanian companies are mainly due to the
absence of proper regulations worsened by financial and government constraints. Specifically,
overall costs are high, CSR has no direct impact on financial success, government
involvement is deficient, there are no visible results and businesses place an excessive focus
on short-term gains. Wider implementation of CRS depends on sharing information,
collaboration between different stakeholders and the transfer of best practices from
international companies.
Notwithstanding interferences and difficulties in the Lithuanian business world,
understanding of the concept of CSR is growing, along with a sense of moral obligation and
range of possible applications. Every company in Lithuania that recognises its social
responsibility and takes action to improve its business practices is implementing modern
human resources management technologies and strategic business plans. Companies that
estimate the possible negative impacts on their natural and social environment are able to
harmonise labour relations and take an active role in the social dialogue. The Lithuanian
government’s national programme for the development of CSR between 2009 and 2013 is one
of many signposts helping to establish changes in the country. The purpose of the programme
is the creation of a friendly environment for future growth of CSR in Lithuania and to
motivate companies to apply these principles in their operations.
Punctuality
Lithuanians are usually on time for meetings and visitors are expected to arrive on time.
Generally, it is always a good idea to arrive about ten minutes before your appointment, in
order to give you time to prepare for the meeting. If you know that you are going to be
delayed, it is advisable to call ahead and apologize for your delay. Scheduling appointments 2
to 3 weeks prior to the meeting date is required. Lithuanians favour face-to-face meetings,
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because they need to foster relationships for mutual understanding. Punctuality may not be as
strict in social situations.
Gift
giving
Business partners do not expect presents at the first meeting, but small gifts to business
associates are generally acceptable and you might be expected to bring a souvenir from your
own country, something small and unique that represents your country or your company.
Gifts appropriate for a business meeting are items for the office, such as pens that are
engraved with your company logo. In the course of developing a business relationship, gift
giving is a standard practice. Corporate gifts can include a bottle of wine, high quality
chocolates, or a basket of tea and biscuits.
It is traditional to bring something for the host when visiting a Lithuanian home. An
appropriate gift is a bottle of wine or liquor or a box of sweets or chocolates. It is
recommended to avoid giving white flowers that are reserved for weddings and
chrysanthemums that are typical at funerals. The family is the central unit in the social
structure of Lithuanian society. Therefore, a family gift should be accompanied with small
gifts for the children or grandparents. In Lithuania, gifts are opened in front of the guest upon
receiving them.
Business
Dress
Code
In business, conservative/classical clothing is common. Men tend to wear a dark suit with a
tie, while women might wear a trouser suit, or jacket and skirt. For business meetings,
choosing a dark suit to wear is always appropriate for men and women should also wear a suit
or something elegant. Lithuanians expect their foreign business associates to be well dressed
and business attire is appropriate for almost all formal occasions. During normal working
hours, there is a less formal code. Men take off their jackets and usually wear short sleeved
shirts. In small and medium sized companies, there is often no dress code. Dressing is
business casual, unless they have some sort of business meeting or formal event to attend.
Bribery
and
corruption
According to the Corruption Perception index of 2012, Lithuania ranked 48th among 176
rated countries, with 54 of a possible 100 points. According to the Lithuanian office of
Transparency International, business representatives saw a better outlook for Lithuania’s anticorruption environment in 2012. According the experts, Lithuania also boasts a favourable
legal environment that can easily accommodate further anti-corruption measures.
According to the national and international surveys, Lithuania suffers from an average level
of political and administrative corruption. Corruption is a result of poor public administration
rather than a cultural heritage. Explicit anti-corruption policies are spreading, especially in
police and hospitals, leading to reduced levels of participation in illicit activities. Bribery
continues to be an issue outside the big cities. However, society understands the threat of
corruption and the number of people and businesses that are ready to participate in anticorruption activities is growing.
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Business
Meeting
Etiquette
Importance
of
Business
Meeting
Lithuanian firms are very hierarchical and all the major decisions are made from the top
down. During a first meeting, Lithuanians will try to be formal and polite, listening very
diligently. They like to ask questions to be sure that they understand what you are saying.
Usually, Lithuanians like to build a personal relationship with potential partners before
moving the conversation to business. It is essential that you try to speed up this process, as it
is critical to the success of the discussion and doing business in Lithuania. Lithuanians prefer
to discuss business with someone of equal status so, it is a good idea to let your partner know
your position in your company and ask to meet someone at the same level.
The best way to contact someone in Lithuania is to call them on the phone, because if you
send an email, the reply might take some time to reach you. In Lithuania, it is still very
common to send letters in business communications, but you should expect a reply to take
about 10 days.
Small companies operating in technological areas or providing consulting or legal services
may prefer to communicate through email. The best advice if you are dealing with modern
company with a young manager is to first write an email and then follow-up with a phone call
if you don’t receive a response within a reasonable timeframe. In many cases, when small
companies get a call from a foreign company for the first time, they respond with the answer:
“Ok. Write me an email”.
If you really expect results, it is important that you dedicate time and effort for frequent and
continued personal communication. Arriving on time for a meeting is also very important as
punctuality is highly valued.
Business
Meeting
planning
When you propose a meeting, it is a good idea to offer several dates in order to give your
partner a choice of dates. A meeting request should include the topics you would like to
discuss, the reason for the meeting and the people you would like to meet. Given that
decisions are generally made at the top, it is advisable to ask senior management to take part
in the discussions, if you want decisions to be made quickly.
Meeting between companies are generally attended by people of similar status and seniority.
Therefore, it is essential that you provide a list of the people attending the meeting from your
company, including brief biographical information which can help your partner select meeting
attendees from their side.
It is best to ask for confirmation in writing of the people going to be present, including their
name and position as well as the time and place of the meeting. If you are not able to attend a
meeting, you should notify whoever is organising the meeting and postpone or cancel the
meeting. The most appropriate time for a business meeting is between 9am and 1pm, allowing
for the option of a business lunch after 12:30pm. The host is responsible for choosing and
booking the venue, as well as the meeting room and refreshments.
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You should decide on the language of the meeting together with your partner beforehand and
inform your host if you will be accompanied by an interpreter or would like your partner to
arrange one. Your business partner will know where to find a professional translator with
industry-specific knowledge. In the unlikely event that they do not know your business or the
products you are selling, bring along some brochures, sample products or other informative
materials.
Business meetings tend to be very structured, formal affairs that begin and end with some
form of small talk. It is advisable that you let your host take the lead on the subject matter and
periods of silence are to be expected. It is important to avoid interrupting someone while they
are speaking.
Usually the meetings are set to begin on the hour and if a meeting is proposed at a quarter past
the hour, it usually means a short or rushed meeting.
Negotiation
process
Decisions tend to be made from the top down. Avoid hard selling tactics and any sort of
conflict or confrontational approach. It is always helpful to know a few words in the native
language as a sign of respect and this will undoubtedly generate a friendlier response. For
example: “labas” means ‘hello’, “labas rytas” means ‘good morning’, “labas naktys” means
‘goodnight’, “prasad” means ‘please’ or ‘you’re welcome’ and “aciu” means ‘thank you’.
Many foreign business partners might think of Lithuanians as reserved and bureaucratic at
first. Lithuanians prefer face-to-face meetings and do not give their trust easily. So, you have
to build some trust first, if you want to do business in Lithuania. Lithuanians expect that any
unsolicited approach is an attempt to sell them something and they expect the worst scenario.
So, “American style” sales techniques can have the exact opposite to the desired effect.
Business managers who do business with Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe make personal
relationships first, business comes later.
Meeting
protocol
Greetings depend on the time of the day. You can say “Laba diena” or “Labas rytas” if you
meet during the day and “Labas vakaras” in the evening. When leaving, you can use “Viso
gero” to mean ‘see you later’ or ‘goodbye’.
To greet your partner look them straight in the eyes, give a firm handshake, state your name
clearly and present your business card. Your Lithuanian partner will do the same and will
have their business cards written in both Lithuanian and English. Listen intently when your
associate pronounces their name, so that you have an idea of how to pronounce it later. Place
their business card in front of you, so that you can refer to it if you have to address the person.
You will have to shake hands with everyone present at both the beginning and end of the
meeting.
When introduced, refer to your counterparts using their academic title and family name. This
is very important, because Lithuanians are very proud of their titles and great status attached
to them. At the beginning of a business relationship, it is advisable to be formal. Lithuania has
a formal society and it is a good idea to wait for your partner to propose any informal terms.
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How
to
Run
a
Business
Meeting
Although entrepreneurs prefer less formality, it is still important to adopt a formal approach to
older workers and government officials. The best tactic is to let the host take the lead on the
level of formality.
In Lithuania, business is quite hierarchical; the chair of a meeting is probably the most senior
participant. This person will determine the pace at which the meeting proceeds and who may
speak at any given time. In addition, they will open the meeting and introduce participants in
order of seniority. You will observe that less junior members only talk to their direct
counterparts unless replying to questions asked by more senior employees. Thus it is essential
that you do the same, so as not to breach the level of etiquette.
Business meetings tend to be highly structured and formal affairs that follow a pre-written
agenda. Periods of silence are to be expected and you should avoid interrupting someone
while they are speaking.
Lithuanians do not like long meetings and expect you to be well prepared for a meeting with
all the relevant information available immediately. You should be ready to answer questions,
directly after the presentation. It is usual to give a small gift when the meeting ends, so it is
good to have a small corporate gift that can be given in return.
After the formal close of the meeting, you are likely to be invited to take part in some form of
entertainment activity during the evening. You should not decline this invitation, as it will
give you an opportunity to develop your relationship with the company.
At meetings, coffee, tea, water, soft drinks will usually be offered and there may be a
sandwich lunch depending on the timing.
Follow
up
letter
after
meeting
with
client
The minutes of a meeting are usually sent a few days after the meeting, summarizing the main
points of discussion, the decisions that were taken and the methods by which the desired
results may be achieved. The minutes are normally sent by the people hosting the meeting.
Ensure that all agreements and decisions are written in both languages, so as to avoid
misunderstanding.
If you would like to make certain that everything is done properly, you should include fixed
deadlines and guidelines on how tasks should be accomplished, together with who is
responsible for each task.
Irrespective of the outcome of the meeting, it is always advisable to write to your hosts and
express thanks for their time and effort. Sending a follow-up email shows that you care and
are prepared to make the effort required to form a good business relationship.
Business
meals
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At the beginning of a business relationship, it is safe to say that Lithuanians will prefer to
invite their guests to lunch or dinner in a restaurant, rather than into their homes. But, perhaps
after a successful business deal and a few visits to Lithuania, when the business relationship
has matured into a friendship, then an invitation to dinner at home, might be forthcoming.
Getting invitation to someone’s home shows that your business partner considers you as very
important to them, as they are willing to introduce you to their family as a friend.
It is not common to have breakfast meetings and they would usually take place only if a
company guest requests them. The venue would then probably be at the restaurant in the hotel
where the visitor is staying. Although business lunches happen often, Lithuanians prefer
business dinners, where they can become better acquainted with their associates in a more
relaxed environment.
Business lunches and dinners are usually fairly formal. Therefore, formal dress is advisable,
especially on a first meeting (men should wear a suit with a tie and women should wear a suit
or a smart dress). If a business dinner is more for the purposes of entertainment and getting to
know each other, casual dress is more appropriate.
Business
Meeting
tips
•
You should show expertise in the subject of your negotiations and should not talk
down or be arrogant to your Lithuanian partners. Lithuanians, like the majority of
people in the former communist countries, are sensitive about being underrated. They
are proud and expect to be treated as equal partners. Do not show your emotions in
public, it will be taken as weakness and remember to maintain eye contact.
•
Lithuanians are a well educated and very hard working people. Give them time and
space, ask for their opinion about any problems and you will be surprised at the
number of ideas they may come up with.
•
Trust is very important to Lithuanians. Once they feel they can trust you, they may be
prepared to introduce more Lithuanian companies to work with you.
•
It is recommended for foreigners not to criticize Lithuania or Lithuanians. If your
partners, during discussions, use critical words about Lithuania or Lithuanians, then
your positive comments will help to create a friendly atmosphere.
•
Lithuania has a complex history and Lithuanians are very proud of their nation. They
see themselves as Western Europeans. It is better to avoid debates on historical
conquests and territorial claims. Always follow up with a short thank you or
confirmation email, and do not expect that the Lithuanian host will do it first.
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Internship
and
placement
Work
experience
According to the Lithuanian Law of Science and Studies, higher education institutions are
responsible for the practical placements of their students. In general, student placements are a
compulsory part of undergraduate programmes. The university or college cooperates with
enterprises in order to help students acquire specific skills relevant to their future professions.
There is no central student placement database in Lithuania. Student placement opportunities
are facilitated by career centres within each university and students can also arrange their own
company placements through their personal contacts. Further information is provided at the
following sites of employment agencies:
Student placement opportunities in Lithuania may be uploaded by companies to the Europe
Internship portal at http://www.europe-internship.com. Lithuanian universities provide also
student placements for foreign students under the Erasmus Lifelong Learning Programme.
There are also some opportunities for internships provided by the United Nations
Development Programme in Lithuania. The assignments are different and may vary in length
according to the availability and academic requirements as well as the needs of UNDP.
Internship
and
Placement
advice
Information on job opportunities can be obtained through the Lithuanian Labour Exchange,
which offers temporary or seasonal vacancies, or various jobs websites:
Social
security
and
European
health
insurance
All citizens who come from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and
have a European health insurance card (EHIC) or E111 proof of insurance are entitled to free
public health care services in the event of an accident. This card does not cover the expenses
of health care services provided by the private sector.
Visitors coming from countries outside of the EU may take out their health insurance either in
their own country or in Lithuania. In the case of arrival in Lithuania without a visa, students
have to take out health insurance for a minimum of 3 months, which can then be extended as
part of a visa or temporary residence application process. When applying for a temporary
residence permit (TRP), it is better to have Lithuanian health insurance, which costs about
400 Litai (€115) per annum.
Lithuania has a high number of GPs and everyone who needs state medical care has to make
sure that their doctor is contracted by the Territorial Patient Funds (TPF) scheme. The TPF
maintains a list of all state-registered doctors who are able to provide public health care.
There are hospitals and clinics in all major towns and cities. Medicine is only prescribed by
doctors or consultants and can be acquired from a hospital pharmacy or registered chemist.
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Everyone with an employment contract must be covered by social security and make the
required contributions, without exception.
Safety
In general, Lithuania is a relatively safe country. Although organized crime and public
corruption exists, the majority of crimes reported to the Regional Security Office consist of
economic crimes of opportunity, such as pick-pocketing, residential burglaries, theft from
vehicles and theft of unattended items. Over half of all crimes are opportunisitic propertyrelated residential thefts that are due to open windows, unlocked doors, and weak security
measures. Vehicle break-ins are usually the result of valuables being left in plain sight. The
majority of violent encounters occur between the hours of 10pm and 6am and involve
individuals who were alone and/or overly-intoxicated. Homosexuals have experienced verbal
and sometimes physical harassment.
Members of national minorities (Africans in particular) could face racism, although cases of
racism are not common and are not tolerated by the authorities. However, people of other
races should get accustomed to being carefully observed, in particular outside urban areas.
Often this is due to curiosity, rather than bad intentions. In order to reduce the risk of
problems developing, it is advisable to remain tolerant, calm and polite. Lithuanians are
accustomed to their homogenous environment and might not have encountered people of
other races very often.
Lithuania has the lowest number of alcohol-related accidents in the EU. The police have a
zero-tolerance approach to drinking and driving, and the penalties are very high.
Do
I
need
a
visa?
Lithuania is a Member State of the European Union (EU) and a member of the Schengen
Area. EU citizens are entitled to stay in Lithuania for a maximum of 3 months within a 6
month period that begins from the day of their arrival in the country. EU citizens who want to
stay for a period longer than three months, or who have already stayed in Lithuania for longer
than three months, must register with the Migration Department and apply for a temporary
residence permit of up to 5 years. Work permits are not required for EU citizens.
Lithuania has a number of reciprocal agreements with non-EU countries to enable visitors to
enter without requiring a visa. It is advisable to check with the Migration Department or the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for current advice on visas, permits and immigration
requirements:
Upon arrival in Lithuania, EU students must:
•
Register in the Migration Office to receive a document proving their stay in Lithuania
has been authorised. The name of this document in Lithuania is “Pažyma ES valstybės
narės piliečiui jo teisei gyventi LR patvirtinti“. The necessary documents are a valid
passport or ID card, an application form obtained from the Migration office, a
European health insurance card, a certificate proving enrolment at a local university,
bank documents showing proof of sufficient funds and payment for the processing
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•
fees. The Migration Office normally processes the registration and prepares
certification documents within 5 business days.
A further declaration including proof of a Lithuanian address must then be submitted
to the local Municipality Office (Seniūnija) within 7 working days of receipt of after
the reception of the document from the Migration Office.
Students from outside of the EU must have a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) to study in
Lithuania and applications can take up to 6 months to process. In order to speed up this
process, a student may apply for a national visa which may be issued within 15 days. The
international offices of the universities provide detailed information for TRP applications.
Internship
and
placement
salary
Salaries are generally negotiated between the company and the employee and some
companies offer unpaid internships. The average monthly salary in Lithuania is between €200
and €600 euros, although the minimum wage is approximately €290. All employment
agreements must be made in compliance with the standard form of employment agreement
and prepared in the Lithuanian language. However, an agreement may include a foreign
language translation to ensure that both parties fully understand the terms of the agreement.
Employment agreements in Lithuania may be agreed for an indefinite period of time or a
fixed term, if the job is for a specific project.
Internship
and
placement
accommodation
Accommodation in Lithuania is less expensive than in northern Europe, but more expensive
than in many eastern countries. Higher education institutions provide accommodation in halls
of residence to more than 80% of students. Finding a place to rent in the private sector is
comparatively easy, but the costs of housing, utilities, local rates and residential taxes are
higher in the capital and other large cities. The average expense for accommodation in
Lithuania varies between 500 Litai (€170) and 1,000 Litai (€289). Local and national
newspapers advertise flats or houses for rent under the section “Reklama” or “Skelbimai”.
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Cost
of
Living
The cost of living in Lithuania is not very high for foreign students though it depends on their
lifestyles. According to the calculations, the average monthly living expenses per student
amount to 1,300 Litai (€380) including accommodation.
Lithuania is placed amongst the top 40 countries in the world for quality of life and among the
top 10 cheapest European countries to live in, according to the Mercer Cost of Living Index
2012.
According to international comparisons, Lithuania is currently ranked 589 out of 780 places,
where 1 is the most expensive and 780 is the least. The cost of groceries, accommodation,
transportation and health care are lower than in most other countries. More expensive are
items such as clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, dry cleaning, linen, magazines,
newspapers and office supplies.
Money
and
Banking
The national currency of Lithuanian is the Litas (LTL; plural: Litai or Litu) which is divided
into 100 centu (plural: centai). Notes are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10
Litu. Coins are in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 Litai and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 centu and 1 centas.
Since the 28th of June 2004, the litas has been a part of the European Union’s exchange-rate
mechanism and is due to be replaced by the Euro in January 2014.
Major credit cards are accepted in the main hotels, shops restaurants and in certain petrol
stations; and ATMs are available in all cities. The import or export of currency is not limited,
although amounts valued over €10,000 must be declared, if you are coming from or going to a
country outside the European Union. Currency can be bought or sold at banks and bureaux de
change. Traveller’s cheques are not generally accepted and can only be exchanged at a very
small number of places.
Banking hours are normally Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm and some banks also open
on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Shopping malls are normally open Monday to Saturday, from
10am to 10pm.
There are eight commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Lithuania, twelve foreign banks
and two agencies of foreign banks that operate in the country. There are also 225 banks from
European Union member states that provide virtual banking services, without having physical
branches in Lithuania. All banks have representatives who speak English and will accept
account applications.
Traveling
costs
Bus and trolley bus tickets are cheaper if bought from a news kiosk (Lietuvos spauda). You
can get two kinds of of public transport tickets: single-use paper tickets and electronic tickets
(e-tickets). Paper tickets that are bought from the driver do not have to be validated using
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ticket punchers. E-tickets are pre-paid plastic cards, which have to be validated for each
journey using machines that are installed on board each bus. Various discounts are available
to holders of the Lithuanian student card or European ISIC. Taxis are reasonably priced and
ordering a taxi over the phone from a known company is less expensive and generally safer
than hailing one on the street.
According to some cost estimations, the average monthly cost of public transportation in
Lithuania is 100 Litai (€29) for adults and 20 Litai (€6) for students.
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Work-­‐life
Balance
Lithuanians are ready to work long hours including overtime, so that they can provide a good
standard of living for their families. Loyalty and the ability to work long hours are often
considered by employers as necessary characteristics of a good employee. Because of the
difficulties in finding a good job and fear of losing it to someone else, young people in
particular have to be willing to work hard for long hours. The desire for career development is
a major impediment to achieving a better work-life balance, especially for younger people and
citizens of the bigger Lithuanian cities. Rather than ask for a promotion or better working
conditions, employees are more likely to increase their efforts in the hope that they will be
noticed and rewarded. More flexible working hours are considered as the second most
important factor for choosing a job.
Gender equality in Lithuania is growing, with men and women being considered to a greater
extent as equal “breadwinners”. Work-family issues are being considered less of a “women’s
problem” among college graduates and the urban population. However, Lithuanian society as
a whole is still conservative when it comes to the sharing of parental obligations between
women and men and few men would take parental leave. The primary reason is that men
don’t want to interrupt their careers and there are still strong beliefs shared by both women
and men that housework and raising children is better done by women.
On the 16th June 2012, the European Institute for Gender Equality was officially launched in
Lithuania as an autonomous institution with full financial and administrative independence.
National
holidays
Lithuanian statutory holidays are as follows:
Date and name of the Holiday:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 January New Year’s Day
16 February Independence Day (Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania)
11 March Re-establishment of Lithuania’s Independence Moveable Easter Sunday and
Easter Monday
1 May International Labour Day
First Sunday in May Mother‘s Day
First Sunday in June Father‘s Day
24 June Rasos (Midsummer Festival) and Joninës (St John’s Day)
6 July Statehood Day (Coronation of King Mindaugas)
15 August Assumption Day
1 November All Saints’ Day
24 December Christmas Eve
25 and 26 December Christmas
Some national holidays take place on the same dates as significant festivals and cultural
celebrations. St John’s Night, on the 24th June, celebrates the shortest night of the year and
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people stay up by bonfires all night. For Palm Sunday traditional “palm bouquets (called
‘verbos’) are made of colourful dried flowers and herbs. Shrove Tuesday is a moveable feast
held between February 3rd and March 9th as folk celebration to bid farewell to the winter and
welcome spring. People chase away winter with all its “evils” by wearing various costumes
and burning special statues made from hay.
In Lithuania, employees are entitled to four calendar weeks paid holiday per annum, including
weekends. Most Lithuanians tend to take their vacation in the summer months of June, July
and August and also around Christmas time. Some categories of employees are entitled to
extended annual leave of 35 days. These are employees under 18 years of age, single parents
raising a child under 14 years of age, single parents raising a disabled child under 18 years of
age. Employees working night shifts, or in extremely dangerous conditions, also have
additional holiday entitlements. Generally, employees are entitled to annual paid holidays
after six months of employment.
Working
hours
A typical working week is 8 hours a day, 5 days a week starting at 8 or 8.30am. In some
cases, the working week might be extended to 6 days or 48 hours. Part-time work is not well
established and people working in private business commonly stay late at work, even on
weekends. As office hours may vary, you should check before contacting your business
partner. Friday is often a short day and business people may leave at about 4 pm or earlier.
Banks generally open at 8am and close early, while shops are open until 6pm from Monday to
Friday. Daily lunch breaks are usually short (30 to 60 minutes), although business lunches can
turn into long discussions.
Employees are entitled to annual vacation of 28 calendar days, including weekends. In
general overtime is not allowed, but an employer may demand that employees work overtime
hours in exceptional cases that are described in the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania.
In any case an employee’s overtime hours must not exceed four hours in each 48 hour period
or 120 hours per annum.
Working
culture
In Lithuania working practices are formal and professional. There is a well-defined and
strictly observed hierarchy with clear responsibilities and distinctions between roles and
departments.
Health
insurance
According to Health Insurance Law, every permanent resident in the country regardless of
citizenship must have health insurance. When employees begin work, employers have to
register them with the company health insurance fund. In the case of self-employment,
individuals have to make their own contributions. The state fund pays for most medical
services including treatment by specialists, prescriptions, hospitalisation, pregnancy,
childbirth and rehabilitation.
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There are two types of public hospitals in Lithuania. Firstly, the Vilnius University Hospital
and Santariskes Clinics, which is a combination of hospitals and clinics controlled by the
Ministry of Health and the University. Other hospitals are controlled by the counties and
municipalities. Most of the specialized hospitals are situated in the capital and larger cities.
The national emergency telephone number for the ambulance service is 112.
Although there is a private health care system in Lithuania, the insurance is too expensive for
most people and there are not many private practices. However, the government has
encouraged religious groups to open medical and welfare facilities; the Roman Catholic
Church and the charitable organisation Caritas have already done so.
Dental care in Lithuania is very good and on a par with Western Europe. Most dentists have
private practices. Check-ups are free of charge; however patients must pay for any treatment
they receive.
Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines are available at local pharmacies, known as
“Vaistinė”, which are normally open from 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Some
designated pharmacies stay open 24 hours a day including holidays.
The social insurance system in Lithuania guarantees income for people in cases where they
are unable to work, due to illness, old-age, maternity, disability, or other circumstances that
are set out in the Law on State Social Insurance. Social insurance is funded through the payas-you-earn system and relevant contributions by the employer and employee are based on a
percentage of the employee’s salary.
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Social
Media
Guide
Lithuania is among the leading countries of the European Union in information
communications technologies and is ranked first in the World Competitiveness Rankings for
communication technology. In the EU, it has a leading position in the number of people aged
16 to 24 who have gained ICT skills through formal education. Lithuanians are proud to have
the fastest download and upload speeds in the EU. Lithuania takes first place on the continent
for density of network of public internet access points. As a result, 92% of all financial
operations are performed via e-banking. The most modern ICT technologies (EDGE
technology, mobile WiMAX 4G Internet, 3G mobile communications infrastructure, etc.) are
fully implemented and used throughout the whole country. More than 60% of Lithuanian
households have access to a broadband connection.
In 2012, the country had the highest number of people having used the internet to read online
news and newspapers (92% of internet users) and more than 70% having posted messages in
the social media.
The major platforms being used in Lithuania are Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia.
Facebook has 1,138,340 users in Lithuania and the country ranks 79th among all Facebook
statistics by country. Facebook penetration in Lithuania is 31.93% of the country’s population
and 55% of the number of Internet users. Lithuania has 0.94% higher Facebook penetration
than Germany. At the moment, the largest age group of users is the 18 to 24 with total of
348,200 users, followed by the 25 to 34 age group. The gender division of users is currently
46% male to 54% female in Lithuania.
The main uses of social media are communicating with friends, sharing YouTube videos,
photos and pictures. Women tend to search for clothing, holiday offers and restaurants.
Lithuanian businesses are focusing on communication with customers, primarily on
Facebook. Twitter is only used by several hundred or possibly thousand Lithuanians.
Generally, Lithuanian companies have yet to discover the marketing and communications
advantages of social media.
Google+ is used mainly by bloggers, students, politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs, PR
people and IT enthusiasts. Although, Google+ is becoming more popular for business.
LinkedIn is mostly used by advertisers, designers, marketing agencies, and small information
technology shops. Business people tend to register on LinkedIn to upload their résumé and
showcase their connections, but they do not use it actively. Most users are based in the capital
city and LinkedIn has become much more popular in the last 2 or 3 years.
Search
and
Social
Media
Marketing
for
International
Business
Learn how to use social media for business from one of Salford Business School’s latest
business management courses. The course was jointly researched by the Passport to Trade 2.0
project team and prepared in collaboration with some of the leading digital marketing
agencies in the UK.
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This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) can help businesses and individuals to make the
best use of search and social media platforms. The course is called Search and Social Media
Marketing for International Business and is applicable to students looking for placements
abroad as well as businesses thinking about new trade links; it comprises the following
twelve topics:
How to develop a personal brand online (1/12)
•
•
Whether you are a student beginning a job search
or a business person planning a new business
venture, personal branding can make a difference.
Learn about personal branding and why it is
important for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=l9LYw0mgtn4&feature=player
_embedded
How to use Twitter (2/12)
•
•
Learn the basics of using Twitter to develop an
individual or business profile.
Remember to use hash tag #SSMMUoS to share
your learning journey on this course so far!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9CVY3pp91Dc&feature=playe
r_embedded
How to use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) (3/12)
•
•
Learn the principles of SEO to ensure that your
website and any social media profiles are found by
individuals searching for your name, products and
services.
These basic principles of SEO include keyword
research, on-page optimisation and off-page
optimisation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zw27cRcwtM0
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How to use social media for international business development (4/12)
•
•
Social media networks break down the traditional
country barriers, but do you know which networks
are relevant for the country you are interested in
trading with?
Find out in this video how to identify the relevant
networks and what social media strategies you might
be able to use on these networks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Bx-B56AHS4c&feature=
player_embedded
How to use Facebook (5/12)
•
•
Facebook is currently the largest social media
network in the world and it can benefit you as a
business as well as an individual.
Learn how to develop a Facebook business page and
see how other businesses use it and what strategies
work for them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=UmRGn-vdcO8&feature=
player_embedded
How to use YouTube (6/12)
•
•
YouTube was identified as the second largest
social network amongst younger internet users as
part of the Passport to Trade 2.0 project.
Learn how to optimise your video content in order
to reach wider audiences for your profile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=G2
0OVpmTBss
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How to use LinkedIn (7/12)
•
•
LinkedIn is one of the three main professional
social networks – the others being Xing and
Viadeo which are also popular in several
European countries.
Learn how to make the most of LinkedIn for your
profile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=N6e_EAUQqic&feature=playe
r_embedded
How to use Google+ (8/12)
•
•
•
Google+ is the second largest social network as of
January 2013.
It is one of the fastest growing social networks and
one that has the biggest impact when it comes to
search engine results integration for anyone who
uses Google as their main search engine.
Learn how to make the most of Google+ for you
and your digital profiles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=8ti
3SPHkEWw
How to use copywriting online (9/12)
•
•
Copywriting is a process of translating technical
specifications and product descriptions into
engaging and understandable customer focused
text.
Learn about the basic techniques in structuring
your online content here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=5f1hx_f2ONI&feature=player_
embedded
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How to stay legal on social media (10/12)
•
•
Everything and anything you do and say online
can be potentially viewed by anyone who has
internet access.
Always respect the law and familiarise yourself
with new options offered to you through a creative
commons licence which is popular online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=eQxDpiHsdk&feature=player_embedde
d
How to use monitoring and reporting (11/12)
•
•
Whether you are an individual or a business
spending time on social media – there has to be a
return on your engagement online.
How do you justify your engagement on social
media to your boss? Listen to the industry experts
in this area and see what you might be able to
measure in respect of your on-line engagements.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LbEq7jsG0jg&feature=player_
embedded
How to blog (12/12)
•
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=OqVjR7oI8Rs&feature=player
_embedded
businessculture.org
•
Blogging is a process of writing text and sharing
content with others. It can help your customers or
friends to keep in-touch regardless of social media
platforms.
Think about the voice you might want to adopt
and who your audience might be. Share your
thoughts with us by writing a blog post about this
MOOC.
Tweet us the link to your post on the
#SSMMUoS Twitter hash tag.
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Passport
to
Trade
2.0
Project
Partnership
Five Universities:
Lead partner: Salford Business School,
University of Salford, United Kingdom
Elena Vasilieva
Aleksej Heinze
Alex Fenton
URENIO research unit at Aristole University
of Thessaloniki, Greece
Christina Kakderi
Nitsa Papadopouloui
TSE Entre Research Centre
Turku School of Economics, University of Turku, Finland
Satu Aaltonen
Elisa Akola
Institute for Information System Research
University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany
Verena Hausmann
Susan P. Williams
Petra Schubert
Valahia University of Targoviste, Romania
Adriana Grigorescu
Leonardo Badea
Three Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Spin, Italy
Carmine Antonio Donato
Dorella De Tommaso
Technology Development & Innovation – TDI LTD
Bulgaria
Milanka Slavova
Ivan Stoychev
TIS Praha, Czech Republic
Anna Klosova
Richard Adekeye
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